Release date: 2007-06-11
Prophylactic brain radiation has shown promising results in improving the survival of patients with advanced lung cancer, particularly those with small cell lung cancer (SCLC). This treatment involves delivering radiation to the brain as a preventive measure, aiming to reduce the risk of brain metastases and extend life expectancy. According to recent research, patients who respond well to chemotherapy can significantly benefit from this approach.
Dr. Ben Slotman, a leading expert in radiation oncology at VU University Medical Center in the Netherlands, highlighted that brain metastases are a common and serious complication in SCLC. Previous studies have already demonstrated that prophylactic cranial radiation can improve survival in patients with limited-stage SCLC. Now, new findings suggest that all patients with extensive-stage SCLC who show any response to chemotherapy should consider this treatment.
In a major clinical trial, 286 patients with extensive-stage SCLC and varying levels of chemotherapy response were randomly assigned to either receive prophylactic cranial radiation or no radiation. The treatment involved administering 20 to 30 Gy over 5 to 12 sessions within one to two weeks. Patients generally tolerated the therapy well, with side effects typically being mild—such as headaches, nausea, and fatigue. Importantly, there was no significant impact on quality of life.
The study found that prophylactic cranial radiation significantly reduced the risk of symptomatic brain metastases, with a hazard ratio of 0.27. At the one-year mark, only 14.6% of patients in the radiation group developed brain metastases, compared to 40.4% in the control group. Additionally, the treatment led to improved progression-free and overall survival rates. One year after treatment, 27.1% of patients in the radiation group were still alive, versus just 13.3% in the non-radiation group.
Dr. Slotman emphasized that these results represent a major breakthrough, as survival improvements for advanced SCLC patients have been minimal over the past two decades. Based on these findings, he recommends that prophylactic cranial radiation should be considered a standard treatment option for all SCLC patients who respond to chemotherapy. ——Shanghai Medical Device Industry Association Network
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